Protective holder for toothbrushes and the like



Feb. l l, 1941. M. MEYERSON 2,231,505 PROTECTIVE HOLDER FORTooTHBRUsHE-s AND THE LIKE INVENT OR ATTORNEY Filed June as, 1939Patented Feb. 11, 1941 STATES PROTECTIVE HOLDER FOR TOOTHBRUSH- ES ANDTHE. LIKE Max Meyerson, New York, N. Y.

Application June 23, 1939, Serial No. 280,840

3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for holding and protectingtoothbrushes and the like whereby the brushes are maintained in goodcondition and protected from contamination.

The main object of the invention is to provide a holder of the characterdescribed whereby the bristles of the brush are protected from injuriouscontacts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder of thecharacter described whereby the bristles of the brush are protected frominjurious contacts, but which at the same time permits ready removal ofthe brush from the device. A further object of the invention is toprovide a holder wherein the bristle part of the brush shall beprotected from accumulation of dust.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brush holder whereinthere is a protective casing for the bristle part of the brush and meansis provided to facilitate the ready drying of the brush.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder of thecharacter described comprising a casing for protecting the bristle partof the brush with means for preventing accumulation of moisture in thecasing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brush holder having aprotective easing for the bristle part of the brush wherein means isprovided for causing the circulation of air through the casing.

Other and ancillary objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a device embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the device of Figs. 1and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing a modified form offastening used in the structure of Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified structure of holder; and

Fig. 6 is a section, partly broken away, on the line B-G of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, and first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, thedevice may be constructed of sheet metal, Celluloid or other suitablematerial.

The device comprises a Ventilating chamber I having the back wall 2 withthe up-standing projection 3 having a hole 4 by which the device may behung upon a nail or hook on a Wall.

(Cl. 20G-15.1)

The chamber I comprises the side Walls 5 having the Ventilating holes 6in its bottom and having the front wall l. The chamber I is secured t0 aprojection from a base or standard, the projection having the back wall8 and the side walls 9 which project from and are secured to the base l0which is tray-shaped, having the bottom II and the side walls I2, theforward part of the tray having a circular wall as at I3 conforming tothe usual circular shape of a mug or tumbler used in cleaning the teeth,and thus provides a suitable tray or holder for such glass or mug. Thechamber I is secured to the base projection or pedestal by means of ametal pin or rod I4 extending through the side walls of the chamber Iand also through the side walls 9 of the standard or base.

Instead of a rod I4 projecting continuously through from one side to theother of the device, the side wall 9 on each side may be secured to thewall 5 of the chamber I in the manner as shown in Fig. 4, namely byinserting a pin I5 through the walls 5 and 9, such pin having a head IBat one end and at the other end being screw-threaded and provided with awing nut I1 by which the walls 5 and 9 may be securely fastenedtogether.

At the front of the chamber I are arranged a plurality of casings I8each comprising a top Wall I9, a front wall 20 and side walls 2|. Thebottom of the casing is formed by the wall 22 which projects forwardfrom and is secured to the front wall 'I ofthe chamber I. The casingpart comprising the walls I9, 20 and 2l is pivoted so that it may occupyits closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 or be moved intothe position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, by means of a pivot pinor rod 23 extending through the side Walls 2| of the protecting casingfor the bristle part of the toothbrush and the walls 9 of the standard.

Securedto the Wall 22 which extends continuously along and forms abottom for all of the casings I8, and depending from such wall, is atubular channel Zlfor receiving the handles 25 of one or moretoothbrushes, when the bristle part or parts 26 of the brushes are inthe protective casing or casings as referred to. The channel piece 24 isof considerable length from top to bottom terminating within the sidewalls of the tray IIJ, extending approximately across the width of theholder and is narrow from front to rear. This channel communicates withan opening 21 in the bottom 22 of the bristle part container casing andis open at its bottom so that any moisture in the casing just referredto, either from the brush or for any other reason, may be drained out,while the circulation of air to dry and otherwise advantageously treatthe bristles may circulate through the channel 24, the protective casingfor the bristle part, the Ventilating openings 28 into the chamber I andthence out through the openings 6.

In each of the casings I8 the bristle part of the brush is supportedupon a tongue 29 projecting upwardly from the bottom 22 and it may becurved at its top as shown at 30. This aordsby coming in contact withthe lower edge of the brush bristles, a means for supporting thebristles with a maximum of Ventilating contact and also permits drainageof any moisture from the bristles so that the brush is maintained in thebest condition.

Each of the casings I8 is preferably adapted to accommodate but onebrush inasmuch as it is usually desirable to maintain each brushseparate from the brushes used by other persons.

' However, it will be apparent that a casing might readily be enlargedso that several brush heads might be contained within one casing.

It will now be seen that each bristle part protective casing I8 may beturned forward on its pivot 23 into the position as indicated' by dottedlines (Fig. 2) when a brush may be placed in or removed from position inthe holder and that when the brush is so placed in position the casingI8 may be turned rearwardly into protective or closed position asindicated by the full lines in Fig. 2. The casing I8 is secured in itsclosed position by means of a spring tongue 3| secured to the Wall ofthe casing and snapping into a slot or opening 32 in the front wall ofthe chamber I.

In order to improve the tightness of the connection to keep out dust,moisture, etc., the front wall 'I of the Ventilating chamber I may beprovided with 'grooves 33 into which t the top wall I9 and the sidewalls 2! of each protective casing. The holder as described may standupon its base II upon a plane surface, or it may be supported upon aWall by a hook or nail in the wall passing through the opening 4.

Also the base portion might be detached from the Ventilating chamber byremoving the rod I4, and the Ventilating chamber with its brush holdingmeans might be supported on a nail or hook in the wall passing into thehole 4 as described. In the latter case the rear Wall 2 of theventilating lchamber might be omitted, the wall upon which the device issupported then furnishing the back wall of the Ventilating chamber.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the device therein shown comprisesv aVentilating chamber 34 open at the bottom and having its back wallprovided with a hole 35 by means of which the holder may be Suspendedfrom a nail or pin in a wall.

At the iront of the Ventilating chamber are arranged a plurality ofprotective casings 38 for the brush part 31 of a toothbrush having thehandle 38 projecting through an opening 39 in the bottom 4D of theprotective casing, which bottom is secured to the front Wall 4I of theventilating chamber, the brush handle 38 being eX- posed, that is, beingprovided with no enclosing chamber or casing. The brush is supported inthe protective casing by means of a tongue 42 projecting upwardly fromthe bottom and engaging with the lower end of the brush bristles. Thebottom 4I) also has the Ventilating openings 43. The casing partenclosing the bristle part of the brush above the bottom 40, is hingedat 44 so that it may be moved upwardly to permit the brush to be placedin or removed from the holder, and when in its closed position issecured therein by a spring tongue 45 secured to the top Wall 46 of theprotective casing and snapping into an opening 41 in the front wall ofthe chamber 34.

It will thus be seen that the brush can readily be inserted into and.removed from the holder, that the bristle part is thoroughly protectedwhen in the holder, that ample provision is made by openings in thebottom of the protective casing for drainage of any moisture from thatcasing and that air may circulate through such bottom openings, theopenings 48v in the front Wall of the Ventilating chamber and throughthe open bottom of the Ventilating chamber 34 whereby the brush bristlesare thoroughly dried and aerated.

While the invention has been illustrated in What are considered its bestapplications it may have otherl embodiments without departing from its.spirit and is not therefore limited tov the structures shown in .thedrawing.

What I claim is:

1. In a holder for tooth and other brushes, the combination with aprotective casing for the bristle portion of the brush, said casinghaving an opening in its bottom for the passage of the brush handle andan elongated channel piece depending from the bottom of said' casing forthe reception of the brush handle, said channel piece being open at itslower end and communicating With the aforesaid opening.

2. In a holder for tooth andy other brushes, the combination with aprotective casing for the bristle portion of the brush, said casinghaving an opening in its bottom for they passage of the brush handle,said casing comprising a movable part which is movable to permit thebrush toy be inserted in and removed from said casing, said casinghaving a rear Wall and a groove therein for receiving edges oi the saidmovable part of the casing.

3. In a holder for tooth and other brushes, the combination with aplurality of protective casings for the bristle portions of the brushes,each of said casings having an opening in the bottom for the passage ofa brush handle, and each of said casings comprising a movable part whichis movable to permit the brush to be inserted in and removed from thecasing and a chan-nel part open at its lower end and communieating withthe said handle openings in the bottoms oi said casings.

MAX MEYERSON.

